The last time the Queen was in Plymouth was almost exactly three years ago. In March 2015 she visited the city to rededicate the HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy’s former flagship vessel after a recent £64 million refit.

Her visit this time will also centre around the 22,000 ton boat, ‘Britain’s biggest warship’, however the event will be much more sombre. The Queen will be bidding farewell to the ship as it is decommissioned.

HMS Ocean is due to be decommissioned today, Tuesday (March 27), as it was replaced by the HMS Queen Elizabeth as the Royal Navy’s flagship. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the former warship has been sold to Brazil for £84 million.

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Plymouth MP Luke Pollard broke the news of Her Majesty's visit on Twitter.

He wrote: "While it’s lovely to have the Queen back in Plymouth it’s a sad day for our city, Devonport and the Royal Navy as HMS Ocean is decommissioned. Not a big fan of Conservative defence cuts at a time of increasing Russian aggression."

It is not the first time the Sutton and Devonport MP has expressed his disappointment at the sale of Ocean.

He previously said that the sale of Ocean to Brazil is "another shrinking of the Royal Navy in Devonport".

Mr Pollard said losing Ocean, only four years after a £64 million refit, made the Royal Navy "less capable".

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At the time a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The Queen is the sponsor of HMS Ocean meaning that she has a life-long relationship with the ship. As sponsor, she receives briefings from time to time and visits Ocean whenever she can.

“She has, in fact, boarded the ship some years ago when it was moored in Plymouth Sound. Her primary reason for the visit to the dockyard on March 20 will be to attend a rededication service.

“I would expect, on her arrival at Plymouth train station, for there to be a very brief but important welcome meeting with Plymouth dignitaries as well.”

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Greeted by Lord-Lieutenant of Devon Eric Dancer she was introduced to the welcoming line of dignitaries, consisting of the Lord Mayor Michael Fox, Lady Mayoress Mrs Fox, leader of the council Tudor Evans, local MP Oliver Colvile, then-police and crime commissioner Tony Hogg and station manager Mark Chorley.

Siblings Leah and Rhys Turner, whose father Kevin Turner was to serve the Queen during lunch on HMS Ocean, presented her with flowers.

Schoolchildren from St Peter’s Church of England primary in Stonehouse waved Union Jack flags enthusiastically and cheered as the 88-year-old walked from the platform into the station concourse.

The noise grew as the hundreds gathered outside North Road station saw Her Majesty walking towards them in her deep red wool coat, made by Stewart Parvin, and a matching hat designed by Rachel Trevor-Morgan.